Speaker to Illuminate Connections Between Genes and Disease

Friday, October 11 2013

MOSCOW, Idaho – Every human has a unique genetic signature – but how do those genes affect their health? Internationally known genetics expert Peter Donnelly will speak about the role of human genetic variation in health and disease at the University of Idaho College of Science’s ninth annual Robert B. and Floretta F. Austin Distinguished Lecture in Science.

The lecture will take place at 7 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 17, in the University of Idaho’s College of Law Courtroom in Moscow. This event is free and open to the public.

Donnelly is a professor of statistical science and director of the Wellcome Trust Centre for Human Genetics at the University of Oxford. His research focuses on using statistical methods to understand genetic variation and its connections to disease.

Paul Joyce, dean of the UI College of Science, said Donnelly is in high demand as a speaker, so the university is fortunate to bring him to campus.

“Aside from being at the forefront in analyzing human genome data, Professor Donnelly is also an expert on forensic evidence, and he is a leader in population genetics theory and applied probability,” Joyce said. “Professor Donnelly obtained the title of professor at age 29 and was featured in the London Times as the youngest full professor in the United Kingdom.”

The Austin Lecture is funded by the Robert B. and Floretta F. Austin Memorial Endowment, which was established by the Austins’ family and friends in 1987. Bob Austin graduated from UI with a degree in metallurgical engineering in 1934.

Past speakers include Jill Seaman, a physician who worked for decades in South Sudan, and astronaut John Phillips.

About the University of Idaho
The University of Idaho helps students to succeed and become leaders. Its land-grant mission furthers innovative scholarly and creative research to grow Idaho's economy and serve a statewide community. From its main campus in Moscow, Idaho, to 70 research and academic locations statewide, U-Idaho emphasizes real-world application as part of its student experience. U-Idaho combines the strength of a large university with the intimacy of small learning communities. It is home to the Vandals. For information, visit www.uidaho.edu.